Planting Wisteria Trees in Your Garden

From their rich purple color to their unmatched elegance, Wisteria Trees are a must-have for a vibrant, layered garden. But if you’re like most gardeners, knowing where to start with Wisteria can be difficult—but don’t worry. We’ve put together everything you need to know about this lovely vine.

What is a Wisteria Tree?

Wisterias are long-living, abundant-blooming vines that are mainly native to Asia and North America. The vines are available in various stunning colors, including white, lavender blue, lilac, pink mauve, purple lilac, and rich pink.

A Wisteria Tree is a Wisteria Vine that has been trained to grow in the shape of a dwarf tree, commonly referred to as a standard. There is no botanical difference between a Wisteria Vine and a Wisteria Tree.

Wisteria Vines are aggressive growers and can quickly overtake a garden if not pruned regularly. The tree form of the plant is a fantastic option for gardeners who love the vine’s beautiful blooms but don’t want the rest of their garden taken over.

Types of Wisteria Trees

Belonging to the Fabaceae legume family, Wisteria is available in up to 14 identified species. The most common Wisteria species in the United States are Chinese Wisteria, Japanese Wisteria, American Wisteria, and Kentucky Wisteria. All Wisterias can be trained into dwarf flowering trees.

Chinese Wisteria: This purple Wisteria is beloved for its sweet fragrance, vigorous growth, and showy blooms. We suggest starting here if you’re interested in adding a Wisteria Tree to your yard. This species blooms in April or May.

Japanese Wisteria: Japanese Wisteria is a slower-growing plant, with smaller leaves than Chinese Wisteria and more spaced-out blooms. It blooms in early to late summer.

American Wisteria: Native to the southeast United States, this species doesn’t grow as tall as Asian Wisteria. It produces pendulous blooms that are half as long as Asian Wisteria and more compact. Their blooms are often compared to hanging bunches of grapes. It blooms in May or June.

Kentucky Wisteria: Kentucky Wisteria is native to the south-central United States. It produces lavender-blue racemes up to 12 inches long and is more cold-hardy than Asian varieties. Like the American Wisteria, it blooms in late spring or early summer.

A quality that both American and Kentucky Wisteria share is that they bloom after their foliage fills out, instead of before, like the Chinese and Japanese species.

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How to Grow and Care for Wisteria Trees

Where to plant: This compact tree will grow outdoors in USDA Zones 4 through 9, which is the majority of mainland United States, outside of areas with extreme temperatures, such as tropical locations along the coasts and the far north regions that border Canada.

Sunlight: To get the most beautiful flowers, plant your Wisteria Tree in a location that receives full sun—6 to 8 hours daily. If a space like this isn’t available, you can plant them in partial shade.

Soil: Standard Wisteria requires moist clay to sandy soil with good drainage. The plant prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil. When planting, give the tree plenty of space to grow. Wisteria in a tree form doesn’t do well with transplants, so be extra careful with your tree placement.

Water: Wisteria Trees require about 1 inch of water weekly during their first year. Water established trees if experiencing prolonged drought conditions.

Fertilizer: Generally, Wisteria Trees don’t need fertilizer. Using it can inhibit blooms while spurring foliage growth. If you live in a location with predominantly sandy and/or poor soil, use a light fertilizer such as 5-10-10 to amend the soil.

Mulch: Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch around the tree to protect the roots, combat weeds, and keep the soil moist. Wood chips, compost, or bark are all good mulching options.

Pruning: Wisteria Trees need regular pruning to maintain their shape and promote flowers. The tree blooms on new growth, so prune back half of the year's growth in the winter. We recommend immediately removing lower shoots to ensure the tree keeps its shape.

Toxicity: Plant Wisteria with care. All parts of the plant contain lectin and westerin, which are toxic to humans, pets, and livestock when ingested. The most common way people and humans ingest Wisteria is through their seed pods.

Pests: Wisteria plants are susceptible to Japanese beetles, aphids, leaf miners, scale insects, and mealybugs.

Diseases: Wisteria trees are affected by fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, and root rot. To prevent these diseases, keep your tree well-ventilated.

Common landscape uses: The Wisteria tree’s unique habit and astonishing blooms make it an excellent specimen plant. Some gardens plant multiple Wisteria Trees along borders. Avoid planting Wisteria Trees near your home. The plant's aggressive growth can damage structures.

How to plant a Wisteria Tree: Follow these easy steps to plant your Wisteria Tree.

1. Remove the material (most likely burlap) surrounding the tree's roots.

2. Dig a hole that is the same depth as the root ball and twice its size.

3. Place the tree in the hole and backfill.

4. Loosely pack the dirt and water.

If you’re planting multiple Wisteria Trees, space them 15 feet apart to account for their mature spread.

Common Questions About Wisteria Trees

Where do Wisteria Trees grow best?

Wisteria Trees grow best in USDA Zones 4 through 9. It is essential for Wisteria to receive 6 to 8 hours of light daily.

How big does a Wisteria Tree get?

It depends on the tree’s species, but generally, Wisteria Trees reach about 10 feet tall with a 10- to 12-foot spread.

When do Wisteria Trees bloom?

Generally, Wisteria Trees bloom mid-to-late spring and early-to-mid summer. The exact dates are species dependent. For instance, Chinese Wisteria is known to bloom earlier than other species.

Why isn’t my Wisteria Tree blooming?

There are a handful of reasons why your Wisteria Tree won’t bloom. The most likely culprit is that your tree isn’t receiving enough sunlight. Wisteria requires 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.

Another cause might be soil health. Your tree might need fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. Wisteria does not need a fertilizer that’s heavy with nitrogen. In fact, nitrogen will exasperate your problem.

A final cause to consider is age. Wisteria Trees planted from seeds can take up to 20 years to flower.

Can you grow a Wisteria Tree in a container?

Yes! Wisteria Trees can be grown in large pots, particularly the American and Kentucky species.

What does a Wisteria Tree symbolize?

In its vine and tree form, Wisteria symbolizes many different things. In Japan, Wisteria is thought to symbolize good luck, kindness, and longevity. Wisteria is associated with romance and beauty in Western cultures like America and Europe.

Is Wisteria an invasive plant?

It depends on the species and the state you live in. Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria are not native to North America and are considered invasive in at least 19 states. American Wisteria and Kentucky Wisteria are native. These species are considered “tamer” because they grow significantly slower. They are also more difficult to find in nurseries, especially in tree form.

Whether you're looking for fruit trees, flowering trees, or Wisteria Trees, FastGrowingTrees has the perfect plant for your yard.

More Resources

Wisteria: How to Plant and Care for Wisteria Vines